11.   Taiwan suffered a major blow last December when South Africa, until then its largest and most influential ally, switched ties to Beijing.

12.   Some governments have switched ties repeatedly, allegedly cashing in each time they do it.

13.   St. Lucia and the Bahamas recently switched diplomatic ties to Beijing.

14.   The largest and most influential, South Africa, is switching its ties to Beijing later this year.

15.   Tonga switched ties to Beijing over the weekend, the third nation in a year to desert Taiwan.

16.   Chang quietly left South Africa late Friday after failing to convince Pretoria to switch official ties from Taipei to Beijing.

17.   Chang quietly left South Africa late Friday, ahead of his scheduled departure, after failing to convince Pretoria to switch official ties from Taipei to Beijing.

18.   The United States switched diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing the same year.

19.   UEFA insisted they had no negative reports on security for the tie in Vladikavkaz and have ruled against switching the tie to another venue such as Moscow.

20.   Senegal a few months earlier switched ties in the other direction, joining a handful of other African countries which are retaining ties with Taipei.